San Francisco, CA — October 20, 2025. The Redford Center today announced more than $500,000 in new funding across three filmmaker support initiatives dedicated to nurturing the next generation of impact-driven storytellers:
- $400,000 in additional grants through The Redford Center Grants Program;
- $100,000 for a new pilot program aimed at impact campaigns, and;
- The launch of the Nature Connection Pitch, a short documentary competition presented in partnership with DC/DOX.
Together, these programs propel The Redford Center’s mission to drive cultural and systemic change through storytelling while expanding who gets to tell environmental stories, how they’re told, and the measurable impact they create.
Since 2016, The Redford Center has awarded $3 million in grants to 85 films.
Sustained Support: Additional Grants to Environmental Storytellers Announced
Through The Redford Center Grants Program, eight powerful documentary projects have received $400,000 in second-year funding to advance their films and deepen their impact. This new round of support builds on the organization’s long-standing investment in narrative change, demonstrating its commitment to helping filmmakers move from early development through completion and distribution.
This year’s second-year grantees include projects spanning continents and themes, from climate diplomacy and regenerative agriculture to Indigenous fire stewardship and youth-led environmental activism:
- Derek vs. Derek follows two neighboring farmers in Devon, England, with opposing approaches to the land. (James Dawson, Director; Serena Kennedy, Producer)
- Green Gold, set in Mexico’s avocado heartland, reveals the intersection of deforestation, cartel violence, and water scarcity. (Sélim Benzeghia, Director and Producer; Ivonne Serna, Co-Director and Producer)
- In Earth We Trust follows a reverend-turned-taxi driver whose unlikely journey reveals a lifelong mission to unite people around climate and democracy. (Sophie Morgan, Director; Adrienne Hall, Producer)
- One Point Five is a vérité geopolitical thriller tracking global climate negotiators on the front lines. (Alexandra Kerry, Director; Jeff Reichert, Director; Lisa Remington, Producer; Diane Becker, Producer; Melanie Miller, Producer)
- The Acid Rain Movie chronicles the scientists and activists who turned an environmental disaster into a triumph, persuading leaders to take bold action on fossil fuel emissions. (Victoria Lean, Director and Producer; Jonas Prupas, Producer)
- This Was The Place is a coming-of-age story of Utah youth fighting to save the Great Salt Lake through cinematic protest. (Erika Cohn, Director, Producer; Nicole Docta, Producer)
- The Invisible Valley immerses viewers in California’s Central Valley, where the impacts of climate change are etched into the bodies and minds of frontline communities. (Elivia Shaw, Director; Brenda Ávila-Hanna, Producer)
- We Arrive With Fire (Ne-kah Nuue’m Mehl Mech) spotlights the Yurok people’s reclamation of traditional fire medicine. (Roni Jo Draper, Director; Marissa Lila Kongao, Co-Director and Producer; Nicole Docta, Producer)
“These filmmakers embody the spirit of what The Redford Center was built to do: use the power of story to move people and the planet forward,” said Katie Cruz, Managing Director of The Redford Center. “As we honor Robert Redford’s extraordinary legacy, this year’s announcement carries special meaning. It’s a testament to the ideas that Bob held so dear: stories can shift culture, inspire courage, and keep the flame of environmental activism alive for generations to come.”
Now in its fifth cycle, the Redford Center Grants Program provides a two-year path for environmental filmmakers to move their projects from vision to impact, a model that reflects the organization’s belief that lasting impact requires sustained investment and community support. In Year 1, 12–13 filmmakers each receive $25,000 and mentorship; in the second year, select projects receive additional grants to complete their films and expand their reach.
This year’s second-year grantees were first introduced in 2024, when The Redford Center awarded $325,000 to 13 emerging environmental films. These projects were selected based on their demonstrated progress, strong momentum, and clear potential to deepen real-world impact. Each continues to advance compelling stories that reflect The Redford Center’s optimistic, solutions-forward approach, showing measurable promise in driving awareness, action, and environmental justice.
The Redford Center Grants program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Walton Family Foundation, New York Community Trust, Manitou Fund, Tauck Family Foundation, and Farvue Foundation.
A New Pilot Program Fuels Films’ Real-World Impact
Reflecting its continued investment in bold, strategic storytelling that informs, inspires, and mobilizes audiences toward action, The Redford Center is piloting a new program dedicated to helping filmmakers expand the reach and impact of their films by providing funding and strategic support for impact campaigns after their films are completed. Leveraged for designing and launching impact campaigns and educational toolkits, the initiative is designed to ensure exceptional stories achieve measurable, real-world change.
The Impact Fund awards an additional $100,000 in funding to five emerging environmental projects: The Here Now Project, KULEANA, Remaining Native, Symphony of Silence, and VS. Goliath. Each film demonstrates exceptional potential for creative excellence and societal influence. These films embody the power of storytelling to inspire real-world action, deepen our connection to the natural world, and offer solutions.
These grants were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Manitou Fund, Tauck Family Foundation, and Baker Family Foundation.
Open Call: A Pitch for Stories that Celebrate the Healing Power of Nature Connection
As society spends more than 90% of its time indoors, disconnection from nature has become both a personal and systemic challenge impacting health, equity, and our collective relationship with the planet.
Recognizing the powerful role storytellers play in reversing this trend, The Redford Center has funded and amplified short documentaries on the theme of nature connection since 2021. In partnership with DC/DOX, the 2026 Nature Connection Pitch, will offer five filmmaking teams the opportunity to pitch their short documentaries (10-30 minutes) to a panel of industry experts. Each film should explore how reconnecting with nature can heal people, communities, and the planet.
Program highlights:
- Open call: October 22–December 3, 2025 (U.S.-based applicants only)
- Pitch event: June 11–14, 2026, at DC/DOX Festival, Washington, D.C.
- Awards: Up to $30,000 per team, plus impact training, pitch development training travel, and festival access
For more details on eligibility, go to The Redford Center’s info page. Applications open October 22 here.
The 2026 Nature Connection Pitch is made possible thanks to the generous support of The North Face.
Advancing a Movement Through Storytelling
Since its founding in 2005, The Redford Center has catalyzed more than $32 million in support for environmental films and filmmakers whose work has reached millions of viewers worldwide. These 2025 initiatives deepen that legacy and strengthen the ecosystem of impact storytelling through sustained investment, collaboration, and mentorship.
“Film has always had the power to shape hearts, minds, and systems,” continued Cruz. “At The Redford Center, we’re investing in the storytellers who are shaping a more just, sustainable, and connected future.”
About The Redford Center
Co-founded in 2005 by Robert Redford and James Redford, The Redford Center is a nonprofit that advances environmental solutions through the power of stories that move. As one of the only US-based nonprofits solely dedicated to environmental impact filmmaking, The Redford Center develops and invests in projects that foster action and strengthen the reach of the grassroots efforts powering the environmental movement.